Great deals get funded even in bad times -- Pirchesky got a deal funded
in the wake of the stock market crash of 1987 and raised $1 million for
a grocery delivery company after the spectacular failure of Webvan, a
similar venture.

"If you have a great deal -- and if you're not getting it funded
-- it's not for the lack of money," he says. "It's all in how
you're articulating or not articulating."

Pirchesky offered this advice to would-be money-raisers:

* Be enthusiastic. No one is going to show interest in your deal if you
don't demonstrate passion for it.

* Be prepared. Hone your pitch so you grab an investor's attention quickly.

* Practice. Test your pitch over and over to make sure your target is
getting the message. Seek out every opportunity to try out the pitch.

* Revise. If you're not getting the money, you must change your pitch.

* Have a strong revenue model. Investors want to know how -- and how
fast -- the business is going to make money.

* Get the right jockey. "Do you want to be rich or do you want to
be the boss?" Pirchesky asks. You may be a great entrepreneur but
not much of a CEO. If that's the case, be honest and hire a professional
manager to run the venture.

* Be truthful. There is no perfect deal, but that's no reason to be deceptive
about your company in your pitch. How to reach: Eagle Ventures, www.EagleVentures.biz